SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION SPECIALISTS

​Your house's foundation is what helps it stay sturdy and strong. Regardless of how well built your house is if the foundation fails the house has very little chance to stay in good shape. When the soil around your home starts to erode and shift over time, a faulty foundation will move with it and start applying pressure to the construction of your home.

This is something that can be repaired and avoided by hiring a foundation specialist to design, construct and repair a solid, permanent and sturdy foundation solution for your home or building.

About UsSan Francisco Foundation Specialists have built a name for themselves as one of the leading foundation specialists in California, servicing the people of San Francisco, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Redwood City, and other surrounding areas. We have been providing stabilization and support to peoples homes and buildings for many years, learning more and more about the industry and our customers' needs. Our contractors have all been trained and equipped with the latest techniques, products, and tools to make sure every project we work on goes off without a hitch, leaving customers with results they can enjoy for decades.

We have worked hard to make sure we are a complete foundation service, providing everything you need for a safe and secure base to build a home on. Our services have been catered for our customers based on what they have told us they want over the years, so you can rest assured that our service is putting your needs and requirements first. From foundation construction and repair to working on unique projects using specialist products, San Francisco Foundation Specialists will be able to get you the end result you need.

Foundation UnderpinningHelical Piers​Push Piers

Foundation UnderpinningWhen a house or building support becomes unstable there becomes a need to stabilize it from underneath. There is no one solution that solves all problems as different sites have completely different terrains that need to be catered for, and it can depend if the fault is lying in a changing terrain or a faulty foundation that was built in the first place. Our contractors will inspect the existing foundation to see what methods are required to secure the foundation.

Helical PiersHelical piers are long rods with an auger type attachment at the end that essentially screws into the ground and can provide huge amounts of support in all kinds of terrain, including deep areas of soil which can usually be difficult to secure in with large amounts of concrete that can be expensive and labor intensive. Helical piers are a cost-effective option that can be installed quickly for an effective support solution.

Push PiersWhen your access is limited and you need a foundation solution, push piers excel among the rest. They are a compact solution that can be installed very easily with just a hydraulic ram, meaning you can get into tight spaces like underneath houses to install them without needing large excavation equipment and concrete pouring abilities. They are also simple in design, pressing through the soil against the bedrock below to provide permanent strength. These are a long term solution that provides reliable support for the foundations of your home.

San Mateo

Palo Alto​​Redwood City

San MateoWe are able to cater for all the different types of terrain that can be found throughout California, including the San Mateo region. If your home has foundation issues, we will be able to assist in the inspection, planning, and repair of it so that you can enjoy your home without having to be paranoid about cracks appearing throughout the house. It's better not to leave it up to chance and have a professional come and resolve the issue for you.

Palo AltoWe have had many jobs in the past helping the people of Palo Alto repairing foundations that have been built incorrectly or are suffering from movement in the land around the property. Our products help to provide strength and stability to new and existing foundation structures of all shapes and sizes, helping to anchor them in place and ensure they are rigid and stable for whatever construction is placed on top of them.

Redwood CityOur previous work has involved new foundations built in Redwood City, helping our customers design a foundation that will withstand whatever weather events come their way without any shift or movement. Our team can take care of planning and installation of most foundation projects, making sure that it's built correctly the first time so no repair is required years down the track.

How much does it cost to underpin a foundation?

In construction or renovation, underpinning is the process of strengthening the foundation of an existing building or other structure. This could be done by expanding the foundation out further to increase its surface area, or this could be the installation of micro piles beneath the structure. The cost to underpin a foundation will depend on many different factors. The extent of the damage to the foundation will be important, as more damage may use more time and work to complete. The process of underpinning will also need to access the foundation of the structure, so crews will have to work around trees or garden next to the structure. Any holes or features moved will be filled and put back after the piles are installed. Another factor that will alter the cost is the type of pier that is installed. Steel piles give a stronger support than grout piers; however, steel will be much more expensive. In this circumstance, it may be better to have the stronger support; nevertheless, if a professional thinks that grout piers will be just fine, then that will provide a cheaper option. Although foundation repair might be expensive, repairing and the foundation will also ensure that the property does not lose value if you try to sell it later on. The best way to get a better idea of how much underpinning will cost will be calling and having a foundation contractor take a look at the situation. They will be able to talk to you about the cost and what methods are available to you.

Does my house need underpinning?

A foundation is a piece of land that a structure sits upon. Keeping this foundation strong and firm will help to support the building that sits upon it from being damaged. The purpose of underpinning is to repair the foundation and distribute the weight of a structure over a larger area; thus, providing a level surface for building operations. Foundational solutions will also aim at anchoring structures against changing natural forces such as: earthquakes, floods, frost, tornados, and wind. Solutions to foundational issues will most likely involve piers that drill down beneath a structure that increase stability and evenly distribute the structures weight; thus, preventing unequal settlement. Your home or business will need to have these safety precautions if your structure has begun to sink and crack. Walls may begin to buckle and break in the crawl space or basement as the structure shifts, parts of the house may settle and become uneven. If any of these issues have arisen then installing foundational supports will be in your best interest to repair the damage and prevent further issues.

How do you underpin a house foundation?

Underpinning a structure will not be a DIY type project, as it will need the use of heavy equipment and experience. If a foundation is not properly raised and set, then further damage may happen in the future. So calling a foundation contractor will help to make sure the job is done right. Underpinning a foundation will often use a set of piers that are drilled underneath your home. These piers will be needed to repair your foundation and ensure that your houses’ base is strong enough to support the structure. As the base of a structure is exposed to high levels of moisture over a long period of time, then structural and foundation damage may be a threat to the building. Repairing the foundations of the property will be very beneficial for the safety of the building. There are a number of different methods that can be used to underpin a foundation. There are steel piers, concrete piers, high-density polyurethane foam, and spot piers that are available. Each will help support your home, but talking with a professional will help you know which pier will work best for your home. Solutions may vary depending on the type of soil that a structure sits upon. Structures that sit on loose or moist soil may need stronger and deeper supports as soil conditions could be more challenging. Dry clay like dirt may not need as deep of supports. Deep foundation supports will need to be drilled to transfer the load of the structure down through the weak topsoil layer to the stronger soil or bedrock beneath the structure. The most common micro-piers that are used are helical and push piers for their strength and permanent fix.

Although push piers and helical piers can both be used for foundation repair and stabilization, they perform slightly different, but will provide the same results. While it will be best to consult a professional about the types of piers that should be installed for your home, a basic knowledge of the two most commonly used will help gain a general understanding of what options are available to you. Helical piers belong to an entirely different category of piers that are not pushed, but drilled into the ground. Helical piers are long pipes or bars that consist of helices. They will be installed using a hydraulic motor to turn the pipe, which helps to drill the pile into the ground. Helical piers can be installed vertical to inclined depending on the needs of the foundation. The load bearing capacity of helical piers may sometimes depend on soil quality, the stiffer the soil higher will be its load bearing capacity. Regardless, helical piles will make great repairs and support for fractured footings, light loads, constructions, temporary applications, and tension loading.

Push piers are slightly different in that they are installed by pushing a set of steel columns vertically down into the ground to create a sturdy foundation. Push piers will not perform as well as helical piers in loose soil; however, push piers will be set into the hard bedrock. The piers will be installed using hydraulic ram to insert the columns after which they are anchored along side the structure. This allows the structure’s weight to become the resistance mass against which the push is made; therefore, these piers are called push piers. However, the load bearing capacity of push piers is directly proportional to the direct load offered by the building. The functionality of these piers comes with multiple piers together supporting the weight of the house. Ultimately, push piers will give a foundation that is set within the bedrock instead of loose soil to provide maximum support for any structure

Both of these piers are made of steel, and will be more expensive than other grout or concrete support systems. However, steel helical and push piers will both be permanent and sturdy supports for residential and commercial buildings.

What are the signs of a bad foundation?

A bad foundation can be recognizable by very noticeable damage that will appear around your home such as cracks, tilted or bowed walls, creaky floors, or doors become hard to close. Sometimes the foundation its was bad to begin with. This may be because the soil was not compacted properly; however, it is not uncommon for a foundation to just give out over time. As the foundation of a structure becomes exposed to moisture and the elements over time, then the foundation may be unstable and structural and foundation damage will be visible. Vertical cracks on outer walls will show that the foundation is beginning to settle A noticeable tilt in your home will become visible as one side of your structure will be lower than the other. Sinking may also be noticed in the middle of your home, all of which will indicate a bad foundation. Although the tilt may not seem great, even a half inch will grow into a bigger problem. If this small tilt in the foundation is not taken care of, then it could lead to a severe tilt. Any foundation that sinks past an inch and a half will be a danger and cost a lot more to fix. To repair the foundation of your property and ensure the safety of the building and that the property does not lose value, underpinning or micro-piles will need to be installed to stabilize the foundation. ​

How do I know if my house foundation is sinking?

Foundation repair will be a very important to help keep your home clean and crack free. Over time, the foundation of your home will begin to erode away, causing your home to gradually shift and sink. A few indicators that your homes foundation may need repair is when cracks and sinking become visible around your home. The foundation walls will begin to buckle and bow noticeably. Doors and windows around your home may also become harder to open and close and may stick instead of gliding smoothly. Cracks in your foundation , exterior, and interior walls will form cracks. These cracks will allow moisture to enter your home, leading to mold and other water related issues. Trying to path up the cracks will only be a temporary fix, as the foundation will still shift over time. Compromised walls may bring uninvited insects who love to hide in small cracks and crannies. The floors of your home will begin to sink and buckle as well, creating uneven surfaces in your home. An increase in squeaky floors will also occur as the floor boards are shifted from the sinking foundation. All of these indicators of foundation damage can all be fixed easily; however, they will continually need maintenance and will not solve the problem.

Therefore, fixing your foundation should be a great interest in maintaining your home. Although it may be costly, the price for foundational repair will only increase overtime as the problems intensify. Repairing the base of your home with foundational supports will also increase the value of your home if you should decide to sell.

What happens if you don't fix foundation problems?

If foundational problems are not addressed as soon as possible, then they could lead to much more damage in the future. A slight tilt of the structure could end up becoming a deep settlement of the building and require extensive work to repair it. Other damage that can become apparent over time are cracks in drywall, crooked doors and windows, broken tiles and uneven, loud hardwood. Further foundational could create large gaps in window and door frames, cause nails to pop out from the ceilings and walls, cause walls to lean and buckle, create leaning chimneys, and cracks in the foundation or basement walls. All of these will stem from foundational repair. These issues can also lead to other problems and can create a dangerous living space. When the foundations of buildings have been exposed to moisture over a long period of time, or construction is cited on unstable soil, structural and foundation damage may become visible. Soil erosion may also cause the structure to tilt as the weight compacts the soil beneath the structure. Repairing the foundations of your property will be very important for the safety of the building. This job will best be done by a professional as there are many different aspects involved with installing foundational supports. But the longer you wait to fix your foundation, more issues may arise. Thus costing more to make the needed repairs. So don't delay and call a professional today.

If you have any questions regarding our products and how they compare against concrete or how they will work for your specific terrain, head to our contact page to get in touch and book a free inspection of your property. We can come to you and thoroughly go over your foundation to see what areas need repair.

"The foundation under our house would shift every few years and cause all manner of problems, we knew this was because our foundation wasn't built properly in the first place but we weren't sure what to do about it. Our friends recommended San Francisco Foundation Specialists who came to have a look at our property and were quick to make a plan to repair it. They used special helical piers and were able to completely resolve the problem." – Cameron S.

"I was having my house built and the terrain had a lot of soil with very little bedrock below, I wanted to make sure it was taken care of properly so I searched for a foundation specialist near me. San Francisco Foundation Specialists did an amazing job to make sure the foundation was set properly and securely, I have no doubt it'll last me for decades to come." – Frank T.

"I had noticed that over the last few months the doors in my house had been getting harder and harder to open and close, I thought it was a moisture problem but thought I would have a professional come out and take a look. One of the guys from San Francisco Foundation Specialists came and had a look and found the foundation had shifted. They made short work of repairing it and the house is now back to normal" – Todd H.